Etro Royal Pavillon

“White flowers” often are invoked in the descriptions of a good many white wines. Rheingau Rieslings come to mind, as do better chardonnays from Chablis and a great many Alsatian wines, particularly Pinot Blancs and Gewürztraminers. As the weather warms up, these wines begin again to adorn my dining table and, likewise, do the white florals in my fragrance wardrobe (the gardenia, paperwhite narcissus, sweet orange blossom and their voluptuous consorts, rose, iris and tuberose).

Yesterday at the Etro boutique on Madison Avenue, I was reminded of Royal Pavillon, a lovely white floral which debuted back when I was in junior high. “Elegant” and “refreshing” are the words that immediately come to mind. The perfumer (anonymous) melds floral and green notes to fine effect, conjuring up an olfactory glass house filled with blossoming plants amid respiring verdure. Gardenia assumes pride of place, but is tempered all along by a green accord. Tuberose kicks in after a few minutes on my skin, providing ample replacement for a missing bottom range. Royal Pavillon dries down to something just un peu soapy and freshly bathed, with a hint of vetiver and sheer musk.

Like a good white wine, the floral notes here are balanced by the crispness which lingers. It is not a profound fragrance by any means, but a very fine scent in eau de toilette concentration and worth seeking out in the shower gel, too. And while it bills itself for women, I think this is as safe a bet as ever for the jocks in the room.